Intravenous Catheter Lock With Keyed Clamshell Access Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The misuse of intravenous (IV) catheters by patients for drug injection poses a significant risk of prolonged hospitalizations, infections, and fatal overdoses, particularly during hospital stays or when patients are sent home with IV access, exacerbating the opioid and substance abuse crisis.
Innovation Solution
A catheter lock system that requires a key for access, restricting use to authorized personnel, featuring a clamshell housing with interlocking tabs and a key-operated locking mechanism to secure IV catheters, ensuring only authorized individuals can access the IV line.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a catheter lock system with key is implemented, then patient safety is improved by preventing unauthorized access, but device complexity increases due to additional locking components
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter system is divided into separate components: a catheter portion and a lock system portion. The lock system includes a body with interlocking tabs and a cover with complementary tabs, creating modular segments that can be assembled and disassembled. This segmentation allows the locking function to be added without redesigning the entire catheter system.
Solution Approach 2:
A key acts as an intermediary tool to operate the locking mechanism. The key engages with the lock system through openings in the body and cover, providing controlled access to the interlocking tabs. This intermediary device enables secure locking while maintaining simple operation for authorized personnel.
2Reliability
If a key-operated locking mechanism is added, then access control is improved by restricting unauthorized use, but ease of operation deteriorates due to additional steps required
Solution Approach 1:
The lock system is pre-configured with interlocking tabs and openings positioned to receive the key. The body and cover are designed with alignment features that guide the key into the correct position, eliminating the need for complex alignment procedures during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of requiring complex procedures to prevent access, the system uses a simple key insertion and rotation motion that most people can perform easily. The locking action is inverted: the default state is locked, and the simple key operation transitions it to unlocked, rather than requiring complex actions to achieve locking.
3Strength
If interlocking tabs with hook features are used, then connection strength is improved by preventing accidental disengagement, but device complexity increases due to additional structural features
Solution Approach 1:
The interlocking tabs feature asymmetric hook shapes with specific geometries that engage in one direction but prevent disengagement in the opposite direction. The body tabs and cover tabs have complementary asymmetric profiles that create a secure mechanical interlock, providing strong connection without requiring additional fastening components.
Data Source
AI summary
A catheter lock system includes a clamshell housing comprising a body and a cover; one or more interlocking tabs of the body having a hook feature; compatible interlocking tabs of the cover configured to releasably engage with the interlocking tabs of the body; a key with one or more protrusions arranged at two different angles; one or more lock disc cams including a cam feature; wherein a rotation of the key is operable to cause the interlocking tabs of the body to release from the compatible interlocking tabs of the cover using each of the one or more protrusions of the key.